Custer County Chronicle

Air guitar returns to rock Custer

Published by admin on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 10:59am

On Saturday, March 14, 2020, the best air guitar masters in the region were supposed to converge on Custer Beacon for a night of crowd-raising antics that would have made the best of the hair bands proud.
Then, COVID-19 hit, providing the ultimate buzzkill.
And while it won’t be an official U.S. Air Guitar Championship as it was set to be in 2020, an air guitar championship is set to strike the right chord this Saturday, Oct. 16,
 at the Custer Beacon once more.

Eight Days in Custer County

Published by admin on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 9:26am

Thursday, Oct. 14
Lions Club, noon, Pizza Works
ADD/ADHD Support Group, 6:30 p.m.,
Monument Health Custer Hospital Conference Room
Civil Air Patrol, 6:30 p.m., Custer County Airport

Friday, Oct. 15
Storytime, 10 a.m., Custer County Library
NARFE Federal Employees, 11:30 a.m., Rocky Knolls Golf Course
Custer Bark Park Grand Opening, 3 p.m., 1152 Washington Street
Walking Taco Dinner, 4:30 to 6:45 p.m., Hermosa American Legion
Bingo, 7 p.m., Hermosa American Legion

Down Memory Lane Oct. 13

Published by admin on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 9:24am

10 years ago, 2011 — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS)  and its members considered filing a harrassment complaint against their neighbors for stalking and taking pictures on private property. . . A local Custer man auditioned for America’s Got Talent dressed as Mrs. Doubtfire and planned on performing a comedic act. . . Wildcats cross-country boys place first and second in the Black Hills Conference Championship. This was the first time in eight years.

Sheriff’s Log Sept. 19-22, Sept. 25-28

Published by admin on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 9:16am

Sunday, Sept. 19
4:57 p.m.: A lost coin purse containing some important cards was lost in the downtown Custer area.
5:32 p.m.: Belated car versus guardrail action was reported on Hwy. 385 in Wind Cave Park. Details were sketchy, but it appeared no one was injured in the incident.
9:24 p.m.: A report of a roadside medical emergency came in from Hwy. 16 near the Wyoming line. A deputy responded to the scene as well as medical personnel but unfortunately the patient had already died.
Monday, Sept. 20

Labor shortage, COVID-19 costs cause crisis in long-term care industry

Published by admin on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 9:11am

Finding a safe, affordable and accessible nursing home or assisted-living center for sick or elderly South Dakotans has become more difficult in recent years, but is getting harder than ever due to a shortage of facility workers and financial losses suffered amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The labor shortage affecting businesses across South Dakota is hitting long-term care facilities particularly hard, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating historic challenges in hiring workers at nursing homes and assisted-living centers.

Eight Days in Custer County

Published by admin on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 9:52am

Thursday, Oct. 7
Custer Wrestling Steak Dinner, 5-7 p.m., Mt. Rushmore Brewing Co.
WEAVE Walk Against Violence, 5:15 p.m., Meet at the intersection of 5th Street and Mt. Rushmore Road
Civil Air Patrol, 6:30 p.m., Custer County Airport

Friday, Oct. 8
Storytime, 10 a.m., Custer County Library

Saturday, Oct. 9
Custer Community Action Team Food Distribution, 2-5 p.m., CAT building, corner of N. 6th and Lincoln streets

Hermosa Coffee House opens

Published by admin on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 9:34am

Valena Baker thought about starting a coffee shop in Hermosa for a long time, but the recent growth boom in the community finally convinced her to pull the trigger. The result is Hermosa Coffee House which opened this summer at 13 Second Street just a half block off Main and down the hill from Hermosa Historical Museum.
Baker had been hoping someone would open a coffee shop in the eastern Custer County community for the past decade or so and then seven or eight years ago decided to do it herself.

Sheriff's Log Sept. 11-19

Published by admin on Thu, 10/07/2021 - 9:10am

Saturday, Sept. 11
The 911 Misdial of the Day: A phone was “just laying” in a vehicle when it mysteriously dialed the emergency line.
12:20 a.m.: A deputy rousted a downtown Custer street camper.
12:22 a.m.: The same deputy sent another troublesome traveler down the road in downtown Custer.
5:48 a.m.: A deputy dragged a dead antelope from the traffic lanes of Hwy. 79 just north of Hermosa. The carcass had been causing consternation among passing motorists, as well as 911 calls.

Sheriff's Log Sept. 1-10

Published by admin on Thu, 09/30/2021 - 12:00pm
Wednesday, Sept. 1
10:12 a.m.: Vandalism to a flag was reported on Argyle Road. The vandal or vandals in question must have a boring night life. 
11:53 a.m.: A “white boxy car” with “some kind of speaker system that was putting out sounds” was reportedly driving too fast on Little Italy Road. It left the area and wasn’t seen again. 
12:45 p.m.: A deputy was asked to check the welfare of a person on Grey Rocks Road. The person was found elsewhere doing as well as could be expected. 

Down Memory Lane

Published by admin on Thu, 09/30/2021 - 11:45am
­­10 years ago, 2011 — An estimated 10,000 people attended the Arts Festival in Custer State Park and around 14,000 attended the 46th annual Buffalo Roundup at which approximately 1,200 buffalo were rounded up ... Steven Carter, manager of postal opertions in western South Dakota, met with approximately four dozen people in Pringle to discuss closing their post office ... Drivers were warned to slow down near Custer schools or face a $120 fine.